Argus Filch, Why the post of "Disciplinarian"? |
 Sep 29 2009, 04:02 AM
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Being Eaten by the Pea Soup Posts: 34 Joined: 3:06pm September 25, 2009  |
I often ponder how Filch got his job in the first place and why.
And it occured to me that its possible that he was once a student at Hogwarts, but through some sort of unforgiveable action, was expelled before learning any magic at all, hence, being a squib. AND it would make sense that he would take the post of disciplinarian later in life because if he had a guilty concience, he would see his job as righting the wrong of his past by using punishment and fear to steer the misguided back on to the right path and keeping them from the same fate as his. Some may argue that Filch took the job merely to punish and torture the students for his enjoyment, but would Dumbledore allow such a reason? Or would he hire someone based on a more morally driven decision? |
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Sep 29 2009, 08:35 AM
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Personal Secretary to The Minister of Magic  Posts: 9,192 Joined: 4:57am January 28, 2005 Location: near Muggleswick, UK  |
QUOTE(ProudGreen89 @ Sep 29 2009, 10:02 AM)  And it occured to me that its possible that he was once a student at Hogwarts, but through some sort of unforgiveable action, was expelled before learning any magic at all, hence, being a squib. A squib is unable to do magic, so would never have been offered a place at Hogwarts. I think Dumbledore offred Filch the job and Filch accepted because it was one of the few ways Filch could remain as part of the magical world even though he was non-magical himself.--------------------  W.L.Y.J. We love you Jo |
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Sep 29 2009, 09:10 AM
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Knight Bus Driver in Training Posts: 600 Joined: 6:25am December 9, 2007 Location: Canada |
Much like the situation with Mrs. Figg. Dumbledore did not care that she was a squib, and he treated her as part of the magical community; giving her the very important job of watching over the boy Harry Potter (to an extent) while Harry was at 4PD. She was also privy to at least some of the activities of the OoP, having been told about Mundungus Fletcher being sent to protect (yeah, right! rolls eyes) Harry Potter after LV's return in the summer of 1995.
Dumbledore did not discriminate against Muggle-borns, half-blood wizards ... or squibs. He also befriended intelligent magical creatures such as centaurs and merpeople, and treated them with dignity and respect. Just like he saw a little werewolf/wizard boy and made sure he was not denied access to Hogwarts and the wizarding world, I imagine (no canon here) that Dumbledore saw a squib man so anxious to be part of the magical world that he would take a correspondence course for squibs to learn magic - which sadly could never happen -and the kindly DD gave him a job at Hogwarts; where Filch could feel part of the world he was denied by an accident of birth. As to why Argus Filch was such a sadistic, hateful person ... well, who knows. Maybe one of the caretakers at a school Jo went to was like that. (Grin) Laura This post has been edited by Laura W: Sep 29 2009, 09:13 AM -------------------- |
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Sep 29 2009, 09:24 AM
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Getting Fitted for New Dress Robes Posts: 56 Joined: 12:54pm November 15, 2007 |
QUOTE(Laura W @ Sep 29 2009, 03:10 PM) As to why Argus Filch was such a sadistic, hateful person ... well, who knows. Maybe one of the caretakers at a school Jo went to was like that. (Grin) I have a theory. I think deep down Filch desperately wants to be like the students at Hogwarts. He resents them for taking their magic for granted. Also, the fact that they often use magic against him is a great irony because as we know from CoS he tries a course to learn magic. I don't like Filch for most of the books but you can tell that there is a sadness within him. He wants to be a wizard and because he can't he takes it out on the students - because they are everything he wants to be. -------------------- |
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Sep 29 2009, 07:59 PM
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Being Eaten by the Pea Soup Posts: 34 Joined: 3:06pm September 25, 2009 |
ah, i see, i didnt realize squibs couldnt attend schools for witchcraft/wizardry.
I never really had any feelings, good or bad, about Filch until i read OoP, he takes to Umbridge like she slipped him a love potion (now that i think about it, i wouldnt put it past her, itd be an easy way to gain support). But the fact that he was so eager to abide by her tyrant like rules made me loathe him, especially when they finally catch the DA. |
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Oct 1 2009, 05:56 PM
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Just Through the Brick Wall Posts: 15 Joined: 8:41pm July 5, 2009 Location: Atlanta, GA, USA |
I believe that Filch got his post in a way similar to Hagrid. It was given to him more because he needed it than because he was good at it.
I think he may have written Dumbledore as a child asking to be able to attend Hogwarts. He may or may not have been accepted, but I think that after that he would be unable to find anything to do in the wizarding world so he asked for the position. -------------------- Ravenclaws Rule!
-Emma |
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Oct 10 2009, 07:51 AM
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Flesh-Eating-Slug Catcher Posts: 201 Joined: 11:53am April 21, 2008 Location: Managing Mischief with Elvendork |
Some may argue that Filch took the job merely to punish and torture the students for his enjoyment, but would Dumbledore allow such a reason?
I think, initially Dumbledore would have proposed a position in the school for Filch, out of compassion and concern for him. Dumbledore is a very fine man! He would know, life for a squib is tough, neither 1 thing or another, not a muggle yet rejected by wizards. Yet, Filch is less interested in the caretaking of the students and the castle, and more intent on meting out punishment, at first physical and latterly dangerous tasks. When Hagrid stay on in the castle after his expulsion, he did no harm, even he behaved in a positive way. Trelawney is given a position for her own protection. She contributes a teaching role, however fluffy this may be. Filch only contributes to less disobedience from students due to his campaign of terror. He is actively cruel to the students. When Dumbledore claims his first loyalty is to the students it's astonishing he allow Filch to continue thus. --------------------   W.L.Y.J. 1 of the 99.99% Images curtesy of Hagiographer13 & Moose_Starr |
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Oct 10 2009, 02:10 PM
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Stocking Snitches at Quality Quidditch Supplies Posts: 661 Joined: 4:16pm April 26, 2008 |
It would have been kinder to modify Filch's memory and place him in the Muggle world where he'd better fit in with no knowledge of the Wizarding World.
As it was he was he was a very bitter man who was jealous of the student ability to perform magic that he couldn't. This post has been edited by cooncatbob: Oct 10 2009, 02:10 PM -------------------- Work like you don't need the money
Love like you've never been hurt, and Dance like no one is watching. |
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Oct 10 2009, 06:15 PM
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Personal Secretary to The Minister of Magic Posts: 9,192 Joined: 4:57am January 28, 2005 Location: near Muggleswick, UK |
QUOTE(cooncatbob @ Oct 10 2009, 08:10 PM) It would have been kinder to modify Filch's memory and place him in the Muggle world where he'd better fit in with no knowledge of the Wizarding World. But that is surely Filch's choice, and I think he chose his Hogwarts role, rather than a muggle role, which would lessen his exposure to the magical world (though presumably he would still see magical family members occasionally).
As it was he was he was a very bitter man who was jealous of the student ability to perform magic that he couldn't. -------------------- W.L.Y.J. We love you Jo |
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Oct 10 2009, 06:56 PM
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Knight Bus Driver in Training Posts: 600 Joined: 6:25am December 9, 2007 Location: Canada |
Indeed.
To the best of my knowledge, nobody forced Argus Filch to be the caretaker at Hogwarts; Dumbledore allowed him to be so (out of the kindness of his heart). Two different things. If it bothered Filch so much to be around magical folk, he could have gotten a job as the caretaker of a Muggle school in regular Muggle society. Or any other Muggle job, for that matter. Where he wouldn't have been exposed to wizards at all. He's a grown man. Obviously, by the fact that he is at Hogwarts, he must have expressed the desire to be part of the magical world - even though he himself could not do magic - and Dumbledore gave him that opportunity. Just like DD saw that the free Dobby could not get paying work in the WW for two years and generously hired him on to work in the Hogwarts kitchens for a salary (thusfar unheardof in the history of elf-wizard relationships, from how I read the books). And, although Filch really was a most unpleasant, nasty man, when it came to discipline I think he had (ie - Dumbledore gave him) very little power really. Sure, he could prowl the halls to catch any kids who were wandering them late at night and he could search all children going to Hogsmeade for their special trips and a few other minor things ... but it was really the Heads of each house who decided who received detention (or other punishment) and what form that detention should take. Laura -------------------- |
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